Always Traught Part II

What Did She Expect

"Batgirl? Lucky me."

"Shut it, Joker," Nightwing snapped at the clown, "Where you're going isn't going to be fun."

"Oh please! Harley will get me out. She always does . . .Hey, you're not the old one!" Joker attempted to point at Batgirl, but his wrists were strapped down to the gurney he was on. For some reason, he found that hilarious. His maniac laughter echoed off of the walls.

Batgirl rolled her grey eyes as they kept walking. Every once in awhile they passed a cell. All of them were empty. After the multiple breakouts in Arkham Asylum, Gotham City's mayor demanded another prison to be built for Gotham's finest criminals. It was on a mini island that was no longer in use, making it harder to escape. Unfortunately for Joker, he was going to the bottom floor. It was the one with the most security and least mount of contact.

Joker laughed again, "Batty dearest couldn't make it tonight? How rude of him to not attend my house-warming party!"

"Batman had better things to do," Batgirl stated as everyone came to stop. Nightwing looked at his partner. Her eyes were focused on Joker. She was either paranoid, or analyzing every little thing. The maniac had escape prisons before. Anything was possible.

"This is his cell," A guard said, "The team will take it from here, Nightwing and Batgirl."

"If anything happens, contact the GCPD," Nightwing told the guards, "We'll be there."

"Absolutely," The guard nodded before he started to give directions to his team, "I wanted all guns on Joker and security at every entrance. You know how the freak is."

Joker fake sighed, "That isn't very nice. I was just starting to enjoy the ride," The two heroes narrowed their eyes at him, "Didn't find my joke funny?" The green haired man raised an eyebrow, "Oh come on, rodent lady. Crack a smile!" Batgirl didn't respond as guards started to unstrap him.

As the guards started to move Joker into his cell, Nightwing and Batgirl turned around and started to walk back to the elevator. His laughter still chased the partners, but the two ignored it.

When they made their way into the elevator, Dick turned to face the bat, "You alright, Artemis?"

"I'm fine," The blonde looked at the acrobat, "Just on high alert like Batman told me to be."

"This prison has the finest security. Not even Superman can get passed this place," Dick flashed her small smile, "Being a bat is bit nerve recking. But you've been on your own before. If Batman didn't think that you could handle it, you wouldn't be here."

"It's not about being bat, Nightwing. It's about how easy this was," She had been Batgirl for months now. Before that she had operated as Artemis and Tigress. She was experienced. That was why Batman picked her before Cassandra or Stephanie to be Batgirl.

Dick frowned, "What do you mean?"

"He barely resisted and not a single weapon was found on him. Joker's always armed, either with guns or a crowbar. And he mentioned a house-warming party. What good do you think that leads to?"

"Mayb-," Dick was cut off by the elevator stopping abruptly and the lights cutting out, disturbing their balance. By instinct, he grabbed her by her waist and pulled her in tight, "You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," The blonde answered. After a few moments, the emergency lights came on. The two separated from each other. Nightwing walked up the door and Batgirl went to the buttons. When the emergency open button didn't work, Batgirl said, "Stuck, probably due to a safety protocol."

Nightwing rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Great. Help me open open the doors," Artemis nodded as she grabbed one door. Dick grabbed the other and they pulled. They groaned from the weight, but they eventually pried them open.

"You're okay?" Batgirl questioned.

"Yep, and luckily we're not in between floors," He nodded as they walked out of the elevator, "Since none of the other security protocols are activated, it was probably just got stuck."

Batgirl was about to protest, but closed her mouth when she felt a tight pinching in her neck. She rubbed the spot as she hummed in agreement, "You're right. They'll call if when they need us."

Artemis sighed as she sat down next Dick. The two were inside a lounge area in the police department building. The only person that had access was Jim Gordon, the police commissioner. He was the only one that knew their secret identities. And they were off the clock for the time being. Batman's mission for them was to transport Joker. Robin, Orphan, and Spoiler had patrol that night. And Batman was of course handling other matters.

"Tired?" Dick smirked at Artemis. She rolled her eyes as he started to play with her hair.

"Sore, tired, and still think Joker isn't finished," She answered as she propped her feet up on the small coffee table that was in front of the couch, "And I'm babysitting Lian tomorrow."

The bird scoffed, "Oh no. How is the little monster?"

"A monster?" Artemis shook her head, "If we have children, remind me to not give them knives. Roy says it's genetics. Bullshit."

"When we have kids, they'll be angels . . . That can do acrobatics, shoot arrows, and be masters in hand-to-hand combat," Dick chuckled, "Our children will definitely be little monsters."

She chuckled too, "I guess."

"Why are you talking like that?" Dick let go of the piece of her hair and looked at her funny.

"Like what?" She raised an eyebrow, but she heard it. She was slurring her words, "I don't know. I feel feel fine."

"Probably just tired," The acrobat shrugged as he settled against the couch. Artemis hummed her agreement as she leaned on his shoulder. She was about to close her eyes, but she started to taste cooper in her mouth. Artemis gulped  it down, however. After awhile it came back. But it came back so sudden and so thick it got her off guard. It immediately made her throw up whatever was in her mouth.

"Artemis!" Dick exclaimed when she launched forward and folded in on herself. When he realized what was happening, he kept her from falling of the couch and rubbed her back. She gagged so hard as she threw up that he could hear it.

"I don't feel so fine anymore," Artemis murmured as she sat up and wiped her bloody mouth. She leaned back against the arm of the couch and hugged her knees. Blood was still flowing from her mouth so she kept her lips parted.

Dick stood up and looked at the puddle of blood she had vomited, "Stay here. I'm going to get the commissioner."

"Okay," When he was gone, she stared up at the ceiling and shook her head. She knew Joker was going to do something that night. What did she expect?

A/N: I'll probably continued this and make it a two-shot. It will give me an excuse to not be lazy and write lol :) I also need to stop posting at ungodly hours. Rip to my sleep 🖖🏽